Mechanism for inverting double-faced phonograph records



MATARAZZO MECHANISM FOR INVERTING DOUBLE-FACE!) 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 7, 1945 dii-l..

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*MEE-61A- lala Dec. 27, 1949 G. MATARAzzo MECHANI SM FOR INVERTING DOUBLE-FACED PHONOGRAPH RECORDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. '7, 1945 azzyf.

Dec. 27, 1949 G. MATARAzzo 2,492,874

MECHANISM FOR INVERTING DOUBLE-FACED PHONQGRAPH RECORDS Filed Feb. 7, 1945 4 sheets-sheet s ATT@ y] l INVENTOR. 'z'annz'c'o/a/afarazzo Dec. 27, 1949 G. MATARAzzo MECHANISM FOR INVERTING DOUBLEFACED PHONOGRAPH RECORDS f Filed Feb. '7, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. @adam-cola /ara'zzo Maw-v9,

(im V5 M @figg Patented Dec. 27, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MECHANISM FOR INVERTING DOUBLE- FACED PHONOGRAPH RECORDS 4 Claims. l

Phonographs are known with rotating playing tables to receive disk-shaped phonograph records having sound grooves on each face, and with means for inverting or turning these records so that rst one face and then the other may be played.

Records are not of a single standard diameter, as some records are around 10, others around 12", and yet others of other diameters.

Mechanisms currently used for the inversion or turning of double-faced records have certain difficulties which limit their use, due to the weight or to incapacity of adapting themselves to the actual dimension of the record in use, wherewith manually adjusted compensating or adjusting means must be employed or the records must be mounted on adapter pieces. In addition to this, such mechanisms may cause shocks in handling the records and result in breakage thereof.

A feature of the present invention is the provision of record-handling and inverting devices which operate smoothly for engaging the record, for raising and inverting the same, and for then returning the record to its operating or playing position in reversed position.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of means therein by which the parts automatically adapt themselves to the actual diameter of the record being played, without requiring manual attention to this phase.

With these and other features as objects in view, an illustrative form of practice of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional View through the center of the bearings for the main shaft of the inverting mechanism and showing the record playing table, the record engaging arms and associated structures in position for permitting the playing of the record.

Figure 1A is a sectional View through the end of one of the arms and the pad associated therewith which pad prevents retrograde movement of the record during the inverting of the same.

Figure 1B is a similar View of the other pad and l the associated mechanism which operates through the pad for the turning of the record.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the record inverting mechanism and the playing table with the record engaging pads in engagement with the record for inverting the same.

Figure 3 is a. vertical sectional View substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 with the record I the center 0f the disc.

lifting rock arm and inverting link shown in dotted lines to indicate their behavior during the raising of the record from the table.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 5--5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional View on an enlarged scale on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view through one of the sleeves of a carrying arm and showing the means for moving the sleeve lengthwise of the shaft while permitting the sleeve to oscillate with the shaft.

The record inverting mechanism is illustrated as mounted on a frame including a, top T, above which is the rotatable record playing table P. Two arcuate rock arms 2 are mounted by their sleeve portions 3|, 32 for movement with a splined horizontal shaft 3 which is journalled in the bearing brackets K on the top T. The sleeves 3|, 32 are slidable to and from one another on the shaft 3. A vertical stud 34 is secured to the top T and on this stud is mounted a disc 4. The disc is provided with two pivots 35 which are diametrically opposite one another and equidistant from Associated with each sleeve 3| and 32 is a stud 31. This stud is mounted in a slot 3'1a in the top T and is slidable lengthwise of the slot. The slot is parallel with the shaft 3. Each sleeve has a slot 31 therein and the head of the stud engages in this slot. When the stud is moved along the slot it will shift the sleeve along the shaft to which it is splined and at the same time the sleeve with the arm carried thereby is free to oscillate with the shaft. For shifting the studs and moving the sleeves 3| and 32, there are links 36 which are connected to respective pivots 35 on the disc 4. A link 38 extends from one of the pivots 35 to the free end of the actuating `arm 5 which has a pivot I6 mounted on the top T.

Beneath the top T (Fig. 3) a pivot 20 is supported by the general frame and receives a rock lever I9 which has its upper end near the level of the top T and pivotally connected to a link member 4U which in turn carries a pin 4| engaged with the actuating arm 5. A cam 2| engages the antifriction follower roller 42 mounted on lever I9, and can force this lever counter-clockwise to the full-line position of Fig. 3, from which the lever is returned to the dash-line position of Fig. 3 by spring 22 when the cam 2| passes to the dashline position.

An arm 23 is splined on the shaft 3 and is engaged by the link 8 which extends through a hole inthetop T, and is effective to produce and control the rocking of the arm 23, and therewith of the shaft 3 and arms I, 2, about the shaft axis.

The outer or free ends of arms I, 2 are constructed and arranged to carry record-engaging and record-turning structures which can move about an axis extending diametrically of the record, and thus this axis in one position of the arms (Fig. 1) intersects the axis of the playing table P. The arm.'-I.at.its freefend; carries the.:

pivot pin I2whiclr receives the rotatable sleeve4 I3' upon which are tightly tted a ratchet I4 and a yieldable rubber record-engaging pad II which'L has a central hollow so that the -engagementwith l the record occurs at points spaced from the afore said diametrical axis. A disk I6 surroundsthe outer end of the sleeve I3', is fixed'to-the'arin I,

and yieldably supports a paw1..=I5engaged-.with i the ratchet I4'. The arm 2, at its free end, carries the pivot pin I2 which receives the sleeve II3 upon i which are fitted a ratchetzl 4 and a yielding rubber L record-engaging pad@ I 0 identicalr with .pad 1I I. The, disk I6 surrounds; and is? free to rotate about the sleeve I3, and .yieldably supportsa pawl I5'. engagedwithltheratchet I4'.J.Each ofthe pads Ill, Il is free with its sleevepli 'and ratchet 14 to ro. tate:in:;one .direction as thepawl. I5 clicks:` and thus the symmetrical shape.of- .the padpermits long use .at successively. .diierent positions, without disabling wear having-occurred: Thediskl' alsofhas apivlot `pin25z1by whichit is connected to ^link 21,. andthe latter inl turn pivotally connected to the bracket I'I slidable along the ways 43fon the Ato1: =.T." The link 'I has-its' end adjacent the .pivot 'I 2 'curvedgsothat it can: occupy the full line position shownin Fig.;4.,.. The bracket connection'is eccentric to the. axisof the shaft 3.

While recordsrare being removed from or placed on the playing xtablenP; andfduringplaying of arecord, thepart-sare in the positionof Fig. 1.

When playing of "one side of'iadouble-faced record has ended, and it..is-de'sir'ed1 to.4 play I.the other side, theioperationsfor,reversingor turning.- the record are as follows:l

The tone armv (not shown) ismovedout ofthe way by handorbyfmeanswell known inthe art, thus clearing the space above the record;

The cam-2| is actuated fromithefull-line to they dottedline position of Fig. 3,:wherewiththe-lever I9 is moved `by spring 22,2and the arm 5 .is rocked'` from the `position of Figf'l toward that` of Fig. 2. The link 38 factuates-.the disc 4 and this latter ro-` tates relatively clockwise --in:-the.gures, pulling links 36' and therewiththesleeve 3 I,=32 toward the position` ofFig.- 2: bracket `I I can-move along the ways'43. Ther arms I,l2 move towardone-anotherf until the -rubber pads lII1,-I Il engage and griputhe edge of the record (Fi'g.12)" withelasticdeformation as shown, and then the further movement of parts under the urge ofspring-22 stops.- Thus the structure automatically accommodates itselfrto recordsof diiering sizes-.-V

The link 8 -is nOWaCtuated-to raise the free end of lever 23' (Fig.- 4),- and-rrock `rtheasliaft 3 and'- therewith the sleeves'3 I,32 and-thearms I, 2,''and diametrical axislof the lrecordrcontinues `to coin-fcide withithis: common ax-is." Due tothe oiset4 or i eccentric position'of-the pivot bracket I 'I 'relative.= to the shaft 3, a pull is exerted along link-1,'-whichvcauses the-pivot 25=to eiie'cta=relativerotationof the diskil.- so that pawl I5 causes the ratchet-I4 to rotate'and to turn'the padl Il sothat theecord- V15 ends of said arms, ,saidxdevicesin. the-loweredr;

R successively passes from the full-line position A on the playing table P through the dotted line positions B, C, D, E until it attains the dotted line position F when the arms I, 2 have been rocked, in this illustrative form, through an angle of 70 degrees into the dotted line position 2a: the record in position F is substantially in a plane with the line extending between the pivot points atitheends ofthe link 'I.

The liiik 'now lowers as the arms I, 2 return to their lowered or full line position in Fig. 4. The link I causes the disk I6 to rock backward,

Awherewith `the pawl I5 passes freely over the ratchet I4:;but the pawl I5 on arm I now acts on ratchet I4 to prevent retrograde rotation of the record aboutits diametrical axis. As the arms I,2.:app1 oach ithefull-linc position, the lower edge (to the right in Fig. 4) of the record may engage the playing table P, and a further angular movement of the recordathen occurs until it lies flat andaconcentrically on the.;playing table, lhaving. been reversed` or turned throughlO degreesbythe .operations described.

The: camiZI ismovedebackto its.-full line posi-'r tion, and thus the .lever I9 `actsthrough lever .5 .w and links 38, 36, 36 to cause the sleeves 3|, 3l1-v tomoveapart and'into the positionY of Fig. 1,

at which the rubber pads. IB,:II have freed'the f record. The .rotation .of :the recordfis' started.,

the tone arm and its stylus` are brought into position, and the playing ofthe new side of thev record r begins.y

What is ,claimedisr 1.'A2record invertingmechanism for phonographs having a record playing table and a sup-- porting frame therefor .comprising ashaft journalled onsaid framev adjacent said playing tabla'. means for oscillating said shaft, sleeves mounted on said shaft and keyed thereto for endwise movement. onfthe :shaft and for oscillation with the shaft','an arm vcarried by each sleeve and disposed 1 at opposite sides of the. playing table, co-axial rotatable record engaging ydevices at the free ends' ofsaid-arins, said devices inthe lowered positionr of the arms being in alignmentwith diametrically opposed parts of the :rim of i aphonograph record on--said-table, a .rockable member movable about 1 an axisf'at right angles to theshait, links Vconnected to-said rockable member at diametrically'. opposite points -andv 'an-equal distance from the i axis thereof and to'said sleeves for movingsaid sleeves endwise of thev shaft and said record en. gaging devices into and out of contact with'wa playing record, means for oscillating said rockable" member, alink associatedxwith one of saidarms and havingl one end thereofpivotally. secured to.4

said frame `at Sa pointadjacent to and Veccentric to the axis ofrsaid shaft; andmeans carried by then record engaging device' `to which the other r end of said link is connected andoperating, when said armsareraisedforlifting .the record from the table, for turning thed'ecordA so as to invert the same'when returned `to the record `playing table.

2."Afrecordiinverting mechanism for phonographs having a record playing table and a supporting frame therefor comprising a shaft journalled on said frame adjacent said playing table, means.` for oscillating saidshaft, sleeves mounted on said shaft and keyed thereto forzendwise movement on the shaft and for oscillation. With the:

shaft,an armcarried byy each sleeve and .disposed at opposite sides of :then-playing table', co-axial` rotatable'recordfengagingdevices` at the .free

position of the arms being in alignment with diametrically opposed parts of the rim of a phonograph record on said table, a rockable member movable about an axis at right angles to the shaft, links connected to said rockable member at diametrically opposite points and an equal distance from the axis thereof and to said sleeves for moving said sleeves endvvise of the shaft and said record engaging devices into and out of contact with a playing record, a lever, means for connecting said lever to said rockable member for oscillating the same, a spring for moving said lever for moving the record engaging devices into engagement with the playing record and a cam for moving the lever in the opposite direction for disengaging the record engaging devices from the playing record, a link associated with one of said arms and having one end thereof pivotally secured to said frame at a point adjacent and eccentric to the axis of the shaft, and means carried by one of said record engaging devices to which the other end of the link is connected and operating when said arms are oscillated for lifting the record from the table, for turning the record so as to invert the same when returned to the record playing table by the lowering of the arms.

3. A record inverting mechanism for phonographs having a record playing table and a supporting frame therefor comprising a shaft journalled on said frame adjacent said playing table, means for oscillating said shaft, sleeves mounted on said shaft and keyed thereto for endwise movement on the shaft and for oscillation with the shaft, an arm carried by each sleeve and disposed at opposite sides of the playing table, co-axial rotatable record engaging devices at the free ends of said arms, said devices in the lowered position of the arms being in alignment with diametrically opposed parts of the rim of a phonograph record on Said table, means for moving said sleeves toward and from each other on said shaft for moving the record engaging devices into and out of Contact with a playing record, one of said record engaging devices including a pawl and ratchet mechanism for turning the record as it is raised, a link associated with said pawl and ratchet mechanism for turning the record, said link being pivoted to a bracket on the top disposed adjacent the axis of the shaft carrying the arms but eccentric thereto whereby the raising of the arms will cause the pawl to turn the ratchet and thus turn the record as the arms are raised.

4. A record inverting mechanism for phonographs having a record playing table and a supporting frame therefor comprising a shaft journalled o-n said frame adjacent said playing table, nneans for oscillating said shaft, sleeves mounted on said shaft and keyed theretofor endwise movement on the shaft and for oscillation with the shaft, an arm carried by each sleeve and disposed at opposite sides of the playing table, coaxial rotatable record engaging devices at the free ends of said arms, said devices in the lowered position of the arms being in alignment with diametrically opposed parts of the rim of a phonograph record on said table, means for moving said sleeves toward and from each other on said shaft for moving the record engaging devices into and out of contact with a playing record, one of said record engaging devices including a pawl and ratchet mechanism for turning the record as it is raised, a link associated with said pawl and ratchet mechanism for turning the record, said link being pivoted to a bracket on the top disposed adjacent the axis of the shaft carrying the arms but eccentric thereto whereby the raising of the arms will cause the pawl to turn the ratchet and thus turn the record as the arms are raised, a pawl and ratchet mechanism associated with the other record engaging devices and operating to prevent retrograde movements of the record during the turning of the same.

GIANNICOLA MATARAZZO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

